In 1926, Moto
Guzzi introduced a superb 250cc competition single with a horizontal cylinder
and a single overhead-camshaft. It was to be of profound importance to the company's
history.

Long Career

For 30 years, the Guzzi
single remained leader in its category. It was, for instance, the first non-British
bike to win, in 1935, the famous Isle of Man TT. Refined over the years, the 250
single was the basis for the Albatros and Gambalunghino.

Works Riders Only

Launched as a three-speeder,
the 250 was sold to privateers in its TI and SS versions; 377 examples were built
from 1926 to 1933. It acquired a fourth speed in 1934, along with rear suspension,
but after that was strictly reserved for works riders only. The factory also
developed a supercharged version, as well as one with fuel injection. It was
not until the launch of the Albatros in 1939 that another "straight-from-the-crate"
Guzzi 250 racer was available to privateers. The product of the combined
talents of Carlo Guzzi and Giulio Carcano (father of the Guzzi V8), the
Albatros was a normally-aspirated derivative of the supercharged works racer. It
still had the power takeoff in the crankcase used to drive the blower, and this
was used for a dynamo on the road-racing version of the Albatros. The Albatros
was built until 1949, when it was replaced by the Gambalunghino, similar in concept
but destined for privateers only.